Benny
Leaders & the Western Rangers was one of a group of Texas bands that boogied
back and forth between western swing, country, and early rock & roll styles in
the '50s. One of the most famous members of the group was the frontman
Link Davis, and this is one place to find
the musical pottery shards that are left from this organization's efforts.
Davis, whose long string of collaborations and solo efforts included working
with the great country singer and songwriter
Floyd Tillman, has been the subject of a reissue anthology entitled Let the
Good Times Roll: 1948-1963, but this chronicle of good times includes only one
quick moment of revelry with the group Leaders led. On the remarkable Krazy Kat
label, however, fans of obscure Texas bands can find a whopping three-course
feast of Benny Leaders & the Western Rangers. There is the agitated "I'll Be
Jumped Up and Down," a song that Nancy Sinatra needs to record entitled "Boots
Don't Leave Me," and "Naggin' Woman," which would make a good answer song if she
did. These are all part of Heading Back to Houston: Texas C&W 1950-1951, one of
the rare compilations with a title that could double as touring advice and a
repertoire suggestion. Additional Leaders tracks show up on other compilations,
with perhaps his best song being the glum but sanitary "Clean Town Blues." While
the fact that Leaders was a bass player would normally lead to a raft of a
sideman credits, whatever bass playing he did for others didn't seem to go
beyond regional releases even more unknown than the ones of his own group.